Appliance for playing games resembling lawn tennis



Sept. 30. 1924. 1,510,462. w. HOPWOOD APPLIANCE'F'OR PLAYING GAMES RESEMBLING LAWN TENNIS Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

LSILAtZ APPLIANCE FOB PLAYING GAMES RESEIVIBLING LAWN TENNIS.

Application filed March 2, 1922.

To all whomz't may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Horwoon,

- a subject of th King of Great Britain and which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provid means for use in playing a game resembling lawn tennis or what is known as fives, such game being capable of being played by one or more persons.

My invention comprises a frame, the bottom portion of which may be made of string net, whilst the upper portion is made of a material which will cause a ball projected thereagainst to rebound, and one or more gaps or pockets immediately above the lower portion of the frame through or into which a ball can be projected.

Referring to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation of a frame constructed in one convenient form in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a conventional tennis court showing the arrangement of the invention. 7

Figures 3 to 7 are plan views drawn to a small scale of various arrangements of frame inaccordance with the invention.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

The bottom ortion a of the frame may be made of string net and correspond for example in vertical height to a lawn tennis net. The upper portion 6 of the frame is made of wood or of other material which will cause a ball projected thereagainst to rebound so that it can be replayed. I also provide immediately above the lower portion of the frame, a gap or gaps o of suitable depth and width each of which may have a net pocket 03 at one side of the frame so that a person can project the ball through the said gap into the pocket.

In practice, the placing of the ball through the gap or gaps c by the aid of a lawn tennis racket on a court resembling a tennis Serial No. 540,544.

court but of small dimensions such as suggested in Fig. 1*, may count as a proper service, whilst if the ball misses the gap, it is played on the re-bound until it is either projected against the lower portion a of the frame or goes out of bounds on the re-bound when a score against the player is recorded. If two players are playin simultaneously then they hit the ball alternately.

The frame. is suitably supported and stayed in a vertical position and is of any desired height and width. The materials of which it is made may be varied to suit requirements. It may be hinged together in parts for convenience of transport or may have telescopic side members for the string netting portion a. If desired, the frame may have netting attached thereto around the sides and top to prevent the ball going out of bounds, the netting being inclined forwards from the frame. Th frame may be made of small dimensions for a table game.

Tn Figures 1 and 2, and in Figure 3, which is a plan view of the frame drawn to a. small scale, the frame is shown as flat but may be curved backwards or forwards as shown in Figures a and 5. If desired, the frame may have set-back parts or grooves as shown at f, in Figure 6, in order to increase the variety of strokes that can be played. Also small side frames may be used along with the main frame as shown in Figure 7.

I claim 1. A game appliance simulating the conventional game of tennis comprising a frame adapted to be arranged adjacent a tennis court whereby the game may be played thereon, said frame including a lower net portion adapted to be arranged adjacent the court and an upper portion lying in the same plane as the lower net portion, said upper and lower portions being joined and forming a continuation of one another whereby to prevent the passage of a ball therebetween, said upper portion being adapted to cause a ball projected thereagainst to rebound into the court and return to the player.

'2. A game appliance simulating the conventio-nal game of tennis comprising a frame adapted to be arranged adjacent a tennis court whereby the game may be played tween, said upper portion 'loeing'adaptecl to thereon, said frame including a lower net cause a ballprojecteclthereagainst torebound 10' portion adapted to be arranged adjacent the into the court and return to the player, and court and an upper portion lying in the same a bell receiving pocket the upper portion plane as the lower net portion said upper immediately above the lower portion.

and lower portions being joined and form- In testimony whereof I have signed my ing a continuation of one another whereby name to this specification.

to prevent the passage of a bell therebe WILLIAM HOPVVOOD. 

